Biometric Attendance via Mobile App
A complete walkthrough for installing, configuring, and using the Matrix COSEC APTA mobile app to mark your daily attendance at CSS Group. Your mobile is your identity.
IntroductionWhat is COSEC APTA?
Matrix COSEC APTA is the official mobile app used by CSS Group for biometric attendance marking. It replaces the need for physical fingerprint terminals when you're working away from a fixed device — your mobile phone, paired with the app's location and identity verification, becomes your attendance terminal.
This guide walks you through the full lifecycle: installation → configuration → activation → daily use → verification. Each step takes about 30 seconds.
Make sure you know your CSS Employee ID (e.g., 1688) and have access to a working internet connection on your phone.
Step 1Install the App
Open your phone's app store and download the official Matrix Cosec app:
- On your phone, open the Google Play Store (Android) or App Store (iPhone).
- Search for
COSEC APTA. - Locate the app published by Matrix Cosec and tap Install.
- Wait for installation to complete — do not open the app yet.
There are several attendance apps with similar names. Only install the one published by Matrix Cosec. The app icon is a dark calendar/clock symbol.
Step 2Configure the Server Connection
Before you can log in, the app needs to know which CSS Group server to talk to. Open the app and tap the settings (gear) icon in the bottom-right corner of the login screen.
On the Settings screen, enter the following exactly:
- Tap the Connection Mode dropdown and select
COSEC CENTRA. - Tick the Secured Communication checkbox so the app uses HTTPS.
- In the External URL field, type
matrix.cssdubai.net/cosec— leave the Internal URL blank. - Set Preferred Network to External.
- Tap Save at the bottom of the screen.
The External URL works on any network — office Wi-Fi, home Wi-Fi, or mobile data. You don't need a separate Internal URL configuration.
Step 3First-Time Login & Password Setup
Return to the login screen and sign in for the first time:
- Enter your CSS Employee ID (the 4-digit number, e.g.,
1688) in the username field. - Tap Login. The app will detect that you don't have a password yet and prompt you to create one.
- On the "User needs to set Password" screen, enter a new password, then re-enter it in Confirm Password.
- Tap Confirm.
- Try logging in again with your Employee ID and new password.
On your second login attempt you will likely see the message "Device registered for another user, Contact Administrator for further queries." This is expected. Your mobile must first be activated on the server by the IT team. Email or call CSS IT to activate your mobile license — only after activation will you be able to log in and use the app.
Step 4Grant Required Permissions
The app verifies your identity and location at the moment of punching, so it needs two device permissions. The first time you mark attendance, your phone will prompt you for these — tap Allow on each.
Open your phone's Settings → Apps → COSEC APTA → Permissions and enable both Camera and Location manually. Without these, the app cannot mark attendance.
Step 5Punching In When You Arrive
When you arrive at the office, open the app and:
- From the home screen, tap the Mark Punch tile (the icon with the inward-pointing arrow).
- On the Mark Punch screen, tap REGULAR — IN.
- Your phone will briefly verify your location and capture the punch. Wait for the success confirmation.
For standard daily attendance, you only ever use REGULAR — IN and REGULAR — OUT.
Step 6Punching Out When You Leave
At the end of your working day, before you leave the office:
- Open the app and tap Mark Punch.
- Tap REGULAR — OUT.
- Wait for the success confirmation.
If you forget to punch out, your attendance for the entire day will be lost. Make this part of your routine before you leave the office every day.
PolicyThe First-In / Last-Out Rule
Attendance is calculated using the First-In / Last-Out principle:
The system records your earliest IN punch and your latest OUT punch for the day as your official check-in and check-out times. Any additional punches in between are ignored for attendance — so don't worry if you accidentally punch more than once.
What this means in practice:
- Punch IN the moment you reach your office in the morning.
- Punch OUT the moment you leave the office at the end of the day.
- Stepping out for lunch or a meeting? You don't need to do anything — extra punches won't hurt, but they're not required.
Step 7Verify Your Attendance Was Recorded
To confirm your punches went through:
- Return to the app's home screen.
- Tap the My Attendance tile.
- You'll see three tabs: Summary, Daily, and Requests.
- On the Daily tab, find today's date — your IN and OUT times should appear next to it.
- Tap the
>>icon next to a date to see detailed event history (Time, Source, Location, Status).
In the events list, each successful punch shows Status: Authorized along with the source (APP or Device) and location (e.g., CSS JAFZA, CSS-HQ-RECEPTION). If you see this, your attendance is safely recorded.
SupportCommon Issues & Where to Get Help
Most setup problems fall into one of these categories — try the quick fix first, then contact IT if it persists:
- "Device registered for another user" — Your mobile license is not yet activated. Contact CSS IT.
- App can't connect to server — Re-check the External URL is exactly
matrix.cssdubai.net/cosecand that Secured Communication is ticked. Confirm your phone has internet access. - "Camera/Location not allowed" error — Open phone Settings → Apps → COSEC APTA → Permissions, and grant both.
- Forgot your app password — Tap Forgot Password? on the login screen, or contact IT to reset.
- Punch fails with no error — Make sure GPS is turned on and you're physically at a CSS Group office location.
Still stuck?
Reach out to the CSS IT helpdesk and we'll activate your license, reset your password, or troubleshoot any other issue.
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